Clutch



H. MORRIS Oct. 12, 1943.

CLUTCH 4 Fiied Aug. 7, 1941 VIN\ENTORI gm www ORNEYS Patented Oct. 12, 1943 uNirnol scorri:s` lari'nufrA OFFICE.

Harry' M'onis. Pa.,l assgnor'rof: one-halt to Alfred Fritzsche, Cleveland; Ohio Application August/7, 1941', seriai No; 405,817

aclantisT (c1. 1er-45.1) l

This invention relates .to ac'lutch between relatively` movable.-parts and more .particularly to the embodiment of a one-way clutch ina wrench.

One ofthe objects of the present. invention is to provide such a; clutchl which is quick acting and positive in operation` when the relatively mov'- able parts between' which the clutch -isV interposed are moved in one direction.

Another object iste-provide such a clutchwhich has a very' positiveclutching action inone direction land lpermits free relative movementy of theparts' in. the opposite direction.

Another olnectfisltol provide awrenchfembodying such a clutch.

Another object is toiprovidensucl'rv a4 Wrench which'is :superior to conventional forms offratchen wrenches ini'point-.J ofv convenience: of' manipulation'; Im conventional ratchetiwrenches vthe handlemust be swungithrougna considerable 'are betere ani interlocking of the-head and handle of' the-'Wrench is ei'ected, thus rendering this type .on wrench useless when attempted. -t'obewused ini afrestri'ctedi space, whereas a wrench. embodying: the presenti inventiony is kinnnediately positive in operation;

Another obj ectY is v'tof provide such aA wrench vin which tlieparts are ttedzwilth close tolerances thus -providing'ai minimumy ofiplay andflost motion intheloperationlof the wir-enclin Another f object` -r is'.` tof. provide snclr a wrench which.: yis` strclmg` construction: and: of which breakage in use is practically impossible4 and whicltis n'ot'liabl-e'tofget` out oforder or require repairs'. i

Another" object -is torprovidefsuch: af clutch which: isparticularl'y applicablefior useas a oneh wayclntclr` f l f In the accompanyingfdrawingz. n y f Fig.: 1. isa plan viewofa-w-rench' embodying the present invention.-

Fig. 2-is -awve-rtical,V longitudinal section taken online.2-2,- Fig. l.V

Fig..3 is afragmentary.horizcntallsectontaken on. line 3--3,. Fig.. 2.

Fig. 4 isa fragmentary horizontal. section taken onilineA-A, Fig.l 2 andlshowingan,exaggerated position o some of .the parts illustrated in4 Fig, Sand henceto that extent is diagrammatic. 'Fig.. 5 isan enlarged. perspective yView of the lochA shoeA employed in. the presentinvention.

liig. 6 isl anV enlarged perspective View of the campin-employedin the: present invention..V V

The. present invention. is. illust-rated. in Vthe drawingr as being.. embodied.. in. afhand operated wrenclsib althoughthe presenty 'invention can be employed where anne-way locking device or quick acting positive clutch between two relativelyV movable .parts is desired and is equally applicable where the` indicated motion of the parts'is either rectilinear'or rotary. l

Referring to thedrawingr the wrench is shown as comprising a substantially ilat head or housing lprovided witha cylindrical bore II near its4 front end', a smaller partially cylindrical bore I2' adjacent its' rear end' and an opening or slot Ivhavinggparajllel side walls connectingthe bores II andy I2;` A cylindrical receptacle It is tted inthe bore- I'I and isv adapted to rotate in this bore, thisL receptacle I4A being provided with an outof `round' opening I-to receive a nut, bolt head, socketl extension rod or thelikeand being also formed to' provide la pair of bosses I6,- I6 eachofV which is formed on one side of the cylindri'cal" receptacle'and surrounds the opening I5. lt is' to be understood that thecylindrical receptacle Ili'can be replaced by anysuitable form of part to-be' turned as long as this part is provided 'with a cylindrical peripheral portion which llits in the bore II".

l A lock shoe f8 is-arrangedin the slot I3`and is rectangular on three sides, the fourth side-'I9 being concavel-y arcuate inform andL substantially concentric withv the axis of the cylindrical receptacle III; The concave arcuate face I9V is also shownv as provided with a pair of spacedvertically-extending lfugs 20; 20, as best shown inFig. 5,v theJ outer faces .of theseY lugsV 20 also being concentric with the axis of the receptacle' I4.

WhileI only two lugs 201 have been shown any Y number' can be employed.` Theopposite sides 'of the lockshoe I il are closely fitted to the corresponding sidewalls of the slot I3A thus permitting the locksh'oe to move translationally a slight distancein4 this slot for a purpose hereinafter more fullyl described so that 'the vertical lugs 26 can frictionally engage the periphery of the cylindriat'ZZ, rearranged in the smaller partially cylindrical bore IZ and comprises 4a partially cylinldricalstem or pin portionv 23 having a flat face 24; and'a pair of rectangular end headsv 225,A 25,

.the` corresponding forward facesv of these end f heads being coplanar with the ilat vertical face 25, asbest shown in Fig. 6. The partially cylindrical stem 23 is closely iitted in the partially cylindricalbore I2 and this bore serves as a t bearing forv the stem.

To retain the receptacle I4 'and lock shoe I8 are removably secured by screws 2`I or in any other suitable manner to the opposite ilat faces of the housing I0, the bosses I6 projecting through corresponding openings provided in the plates 26.

The handle of the wrench is shown as comprising a pair of spaced outer handle plates 30, 30 and an inner spacer plate 3l disposed between the outer plates 30. The handle plates 30 and 3l can be secured together in any suitable manner but are illustrated as being removably secured together by screws 32. The spacer plate 3I is of shorter length than the outer handle plates 30 and these outer handle plates adjacent their forward ends are each outwardly offset, as best shown in Fig. 2, so as to embrace the rear end of the housing III. Each of the handle plates 30 is provided with a rectangular opening 33 which receives the corresponding rectangular end head 25 of the cam pin 22.

The housing Ill is urged and maintained in a very slightly offset relation to the handle of the wrench and for this purpose a spring 35 is arranged between the housing I and the spacer plate 3|, the opposite ends of the spring 35 being received in recesses 36 and 3'I provided, respectively, in the housing and the spacer plate. The direction in which the housing III is urged and maintained by the spring 35 relative to the handle is represented in Fig. 3 by the arrow 38. Fig. 4 represents an exaggerated position of the parts shown in Fig. 3 with the exception of the spring 35 which is omitted for purposes of clarity. From an observation of Fig. 4 it will be noted that one side of the flat face 24 of the cam pin 23 bears against the rear face of the lock shoe I8 thus urging the lock shoe to a forward position whereby the lugs are urged into frictional engagement with the periphery of the receptacle I4. The resilience of the spring 35 is sumcient to maintain ,the lock shoe I8 and cam pin 22 in the positions of these parts represented in Fig. 4 in which the handle isslightly oilset relative to the housing I Il. When pressure is applied to the handle in the direction of the arrow 39, in Fig. 3, and the arrow 40, in Fig. 4, the frctional engagement of the lock shoe with the receptacle I4 is increased and the clutching action between these parts is rendered certain. Thus the handle attempts to rotate the lock pin 22 which by camming action urges the lock shoe IB into rm engagement with the receptacle I4 which is fitted over the part to be turned. The greater the pressure applied to the handle the firmer will be the frictional engagement of the lock shoe with the receptacle and it has been found that no slippage of the parts occurs.

When it is desired to slip the wre'nch, the handle is turned in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrows 33 and 40, the excessive applied pressure being thereby relieved and the pressure of the spring 35 being also slightly relieved so that the handle can be rotated in this opposite direction without effecting a corresponding rotation of the receptacle i4. Thus, the cam pin 22 is rotated very slightly relative to the housing I0 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4 so that the lock shoei is not held in firm frictional engagement with the periphery of the receptacle I4 but is merely held in light frictional engagement solely by the pressure of the spring 35. This light spring pressure can never be counteracted in use by this movement of the handle since the lock shoe slips around the receptacle.

An important feature of the invention resides in the proper proportioning of the sizes of the cylindrical receptacle I4 and the cam member or pin 23 and their respective bores II and I2. To obtain proper operation of the wrench I have found it essential that the diameter of the cylindrical receptacle I4 and its bore II be at least two and one-half times the diameter of the cam member or pin 23 and its bore I2. 'With the receptacle I4 having a diameter atleast two and one-half times the diameter of the cam member i or pin 23, the wrench will operate smoothly and without binding or irregularity in its action.

When it is desired to have the wrench operate in the reverse direction from that illustrated the wrench is turned upside down. To indicate in which direction the handle should be turned to effect a clutching action the handle is provided on each side with an arrow 4I.

While I have described the one-way clutch forming the subject matter of the present invention as embodied in a wrench it is readily apparent that the present invention is capable of a variety of applications and embodiments of clutches.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides a clutch between relatively movable parts which is quick acting and positive in operation so as to frictionally interlock the parts when the parts attempt to move relatively in one direction and to permit free relative movement in the opposite directionl I claim as my invention:

l. Aclutch interposed between two relatively rotatable parts one of which is provided with an external cylindrical peripheral portion ,of relatively large diameter, comprising a lock shoe adapted to frictionally engage with said external peripheral portion of one of said parts, and a cam member rotatable about an axis arranged eccentrically of said one part and operatively connected to the other of said parts and adapted to engage the opposite side of said lock shoe from that engaging said external peripheral portion of said one part, said lock shoe being urged into firm frictionally clutched engagement with said one part upon rotation of said other part in a predetermined direction and said lock shoe permitting free relative rotation between said parts upon movement of said other part in an opposite direction.

2. A clutch interposed between two relatively rotatable parts one of which is provided with an external cylindrical peripheral portion of relatively large diameter, comprising a lock shoe adapted to frictionally engage with said external peripheral portion of one of said parts, a cam member of relatively small diameter rotatable about an axis parallel with the axis of said one part and arranged radially outward from said shoe and operatively connected to the other'of said parts and adapted to engage the opposite side of said lock shoe from that engaging said external peripheral portion of said one part, and means constantly urging said cam member into engagement with said lock shoe whereby said lock shoe is 'urged into light frictional contact with said peripheral portion, said lock shoe being urged into rm frictionally clutched engagement with said peripheral portion upon movement of said other part in a direction supplementing the pressure applied by said urging means and said lock shoe permitting free relative movement between said parts upon movement of said other eyes-nace l partI inza.l directibrr inv opposition tothe 4pressure Iapplietljliy saidurgingmeansr j e v 3.." Ajclntchinterposed betweenl twoipartswhich are relatively, rotatable about a ccmnrona'xis and one .of which partsis providedwith'an'4 external cylindrical vperipheral'".'portion'fof relativejly'flarge diameter,.cnmprisihg a `housingv rotatablymounted' on sai'dexternal peripheral portion of said one part, a lock shoe arranged in said housing and adapted to frictionally engage with said peripheral portion, means for guiding said lock shoe to move radially toward and from the axis of said one part, and a cam member mounted in said housing radially outward from said shoe and rotatable about an axis parallel with the axis of said one part and operatively connected to the other of said parts 'and adapted to engage the opposite side of said lock shoe from that engaging said external peripheral portion of said one part, said lock shoe being urged into rm frictionally clutched engagement with said one part upon rotation of said other part in a predetermined direction and said lock shoe permitting free relative rotation between said parts upon movement of said other part in an opposite direction.

4. A clutch interposed between two parts which are relatively rotatable about a common axis and one of which parts is provided with a cylindrical peripheral portion, comprising a housing provided with a cylindrical bore which receives said cylindrical peripheral portion of said one part and said housing also being provided with a second bore remote from said rst bore and with a parallel walled slot connecting said bores, a lock shoe arranged in said slot for sliding movement therein radially toward and from said rst bore and adapted to frictionally engage with said peripheral portion of said one part, a cam member rotatably mounted in said second bore and operatively connected to the other of said parts and adapted to engage said lock shoe, and spring means interposed between said housing and said other part and operating to constantly urge said cam member into engagement with said lock shoe whereby said lock shoe is urged into light frictional contact with said peripheral portion of said one part, Said lock shoe being urged into firm frictionally clutched engagement with said peripheral portion upon movement of said other part in a direction supplementing the pressure applied by said spring means and said lock shoe permitting free relative rotative movement between said parts upon movement of said other part in a direction in opposition to the pressure applied by said spring means.

5. A clutch interposed between two parts which are relatively rotatable about a common axis and one of which parts is provided with a cylindrical peripheral portion, comprising a housing provided with a cylindrical bore which receives said cylindrical peripheral portion of said one part and said housing also being provided with a second bore remote from said iirst bore and with aparallel walled slot connecting said bores, the walls of said slot extending radially of said rst bore, a lock shoe arranged in said slot for sliding movement therein radially toward and from said first bore and having its adjacent side adapted to frictionally engage with said peripheral portion of said one part, a cam member rotatably mounted in said second bore and operatively connected to the other of said parts and adapted to engage the side opposite said adjacent side of Said lock shoe, and spring means interposed between said housing and said other part and operating tofconstantlyiurge said-'cam member'intoiengagee ment* 'with said"l'ocl'rshoeL whereby saiolA lock shoe isjurged intolight ffrictional' Contact' with said peripheraiport-ionL of said one-- part, rsaidlock shoen beingurgedl into l frictionally-f clutched I'engagement with 'said peripheral portion upon movement'- `cifsai'd other part-in aldirection supplernenting' the pressureappli'edfb'y'Y sai'dl spring means and said lock shoe permitting free relative rotative movement between said parts upon movement of said other part in a direction in opposition to the pressure applied by said spring means.

6. A wrench, comprising a housing, a part to be turned mounted in said housing, a lock shoe arranged in said housing and adapted to frictionally engage with said part, a cam member mounted in said housing and adapted to engage said said lock shoe permitting free relative movement between said part and said handle upon movement of said handle in a direction in opposition to the pressure applied by said spring means.

'7. A wrench, comprising a part to be turned and having a cylindrical peripheral portion, a housing rotatably mounted on said peripheral portion, a lock shoe arranged in said housing adjacent said peripheral portion of said part and 'adapted to frictionally engage with said peripheral portion, a cam member rotatably mounted in said housing adjacent said lock shoe and adapted to engage said lock shoe, a handle operatively connected to said cam member, anda spring interposed between said housing a-nd said handle and constantly urging said cam member into engagement with said lock shoe whereby said lock shoe is urged into light frictional contact with said cylindrical peripheral portion of said part, said lock shoe being urged into firm frictionally clutched engagement with said peripheral .portion upon the application of pressure to said handle in a direction supplementing the pressure applied by said spring and said lock shoe permitting free relative movement between said part and said handle upon the application of pressure to said handle in a direction in opposition to the pressure applied by said spring.

8. A clutch between two relatively rotatable parts one of which is provided with an external cylindrical peripheral portion of relatively large diameter tting in a bore provided in the other of said parts comprising a locking member mounted in said other part externally of said one part for radial movement toward and from the peripheral portion thereof and having a concave side embracing a part of said periphery of said one part and cam means rotatable about an axis y arranged radially outward from said locking member and engaging with said locking member to force its concave face into locking engagement with said periphery of said one part.

9. A clutch interposed between two parts which are relatively rotatable about a common axis and one of which parts is provided with a cylindrical peripheral portion, comprising a housing provided with a cylindrical bore which receives said cylindrical peripheral portion of said one part and said housing also being provided with a second bore remote from said first bore and with a parallel walled slot connecting said bores, a. lock shoe arranged in said slot for sliding movement therein radially toward and from said rst bore and adapted to frictionally engage with said peripheral portion of said one part, and a cam member rotatably mounted in said second bore and having a flattened face adapted to engage said locking shoe, the diameter of said rst cylindrical bore being at least two and one-half times the diameter of said second bore and said lock shoe being urged by said cam member into rm engagement with said one part upon movement of said other part in a predetermined direction.

HARRY MORRIS` 

